[Albion] Belfast - any tips?

T

Tooting Gull

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

11,033

• Nov 17, 2017

• #1

Going to finally be spending a few days in Belfast next week, probably should have made the effort before really.

Anything really worth doing? Might not have time for Giant's Causeway trip though will try, so city centre-ish more realistic.

 

easynow

New member

Mar 17, 2013

2,039

jakarta

• Nov 17, 2017

• #2

You'll have good stretch walking around Belfast for a few days. Check out trip adviser for all the tourist stuff. Next time you visit Ireland, rent car and spend week or so driving in and around the coastline of Ireland.

 

jonnyrovers

mostly tinpot

Aug 13, 2013

1,181

Shoreham-by-Sea

• Nov 17, 2017

• #3

The Crown Pub. Legendary liquor palace with a fascinating contemporary history. Might even be owned by the national trust if memory serves me. Drink with the locals anywhere in the city and you'll get a glimpse into a corner of the UK with a lot to give.

 

LamieRobertson

Not awoke

Feb 3, 2008

46,673

SHOREHAM BY SEA

• Nov 17, 2017

• #4

Haven’t been since 1992...can’t remember much

 

Juan Albion

Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class

Jul 9, 2003

31,370

Pontypool (Not THAT Pontypool, the one with the zo

• Nov 18, 2017

• #5

 

herecomesaregular

We're in the pipe, 5 by 5

Oct 27, 2008

4,216

Still in Brighton

• Nov 18, 2017

• #6

Belfast The Troubles tour by cab, HMS Caroline, Giants Causeway bus trip with 3 hour guided cliff walk (so glad we did this with the walk to the Causeway rather than just bus there). Drinking lots of Irish whiskey. Titantic museum was ok but a little bit overrated imo. Great city break, lovely people, shocking amount of vulnerable young homeless people sleeping rough.

 

D

de la zouch

Active member

Jul 12, 2007

388

• Nov 18, 2017

• #7

Its a great city, been quite a few times. Agree about the cab ride, well worth it. Also the bar at the Merchant Hotel is amazing - its a great hotel as well. Duke of York is the best pub. Enjoy.

 

The Clamp

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jan 11, 2016

24,472

West is BEST

• Nov 18, 2017

• #8

Titanic Experience at the Harland & Wolfe docks is a great afternoon, they have done such a good job of it.
Get on a guided tour bus, it's a great way to learn the city's history in about an hour and a half.
many good pubs and restaurants you'll find just walking about.
Causeway is good but I've not been there since I was a kid, i assume it's pretty much the same.
If you can take a trip up to the Mountains of Mourne. They have a brilliant visitors centre and tours through the stunning landscape.
Belfast Cathedral is a stunning building, if that's your bag.

 

Cowfold Seagull

Fan of the 17 bus

Apr 22, 2009

21,618

Cowfold

• Nov 18, 2017

• #9

jonnyrovers said:

The Crown Pub. Legendary liquor palace with a fascinating contemporary history. Might even be owned by the national trust if memory serves me. Drink with the locals anywhere in the city and you'll get a glimpse into a corner of the UK with a lot to give.

Click to expand...

Mrs. Cowfold and I spent a long weekend in Belfast back in June. We too visited the Crown, which is indeed owned by the National Trust, but were somewhat underwhelmed by the experience. We found the staff surly and rude, and drinks/food very expensive. An opinion shared by our Irish friends who we went out there to see.

Having said that, we found Belfast to be a facinating city, not nearly as big as l had assumed, (the population isn't that much bigger than Brighton's), and most of it is accesible on foot. City tours are a good idea too on a frequent open top double decker bus, and we visited the Titanic Experience, we saw the Peace Wall, Stormont Castle, and the Botanic Gardens. We also found the time for a trip up to the Giant's Causeway, which was really beautiful, but did take up most the day.

Just a few days there gave us a real taste of Northern Ireland, and left us wanting to see more. We will be back.

 

Geestar

New member

Nov 6, 2012

3,421

Shoreham Beach

• Nov 18, 2017

• #10

Loved it!

Another recommendation for the cab tour, we had a brilliant driver.

Giant Causeway definitely worth it if you can make the time.

Sent from my TA-1020 using Tapatalk

 

E

essbee1

Well-known member

Jun 25, 2014

4,118

• Nov 18, 2017

• #11

Do the Troubles tour - you'll never forget it. And Titanic of course. But most of all
try a few/dozen boozers - the people there are just simply the friendliest, warmest and most
hospitable I've ever met.

 

C

cheshunt seagull

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

2,495

• Nov 18, 2017

• #12

I would recommend a Black Cab tour which takes in the murals, Bombay St etc. I did it some years back and was worried about whether it was in dubious taste but our driver was incredibly knowledgable and very even handed presenting each position objectively. The Crown is touristy but a must-see. Try the The Mourne Seafood Bar as well. I work in a library so I am biased but the Linen Hall Library in the city centre is worth seeing; reputedly the safest place in Belfast in the Troubles as it has a unique collection of material relating to each tradition and neither side wanted to see that damaged. It's a great city; enjoy.

 

T

Tooting Gull

Well-known member

Jul 5, 2003

11,033

• Nov 18, 2017

• Thread starter
• #13

Great stuff, thanks all. Sounds like bars in cobbled streets, a city tour, and anything else there is time for in that order...